Development and Formative Assessment of a Type 2 Diabetes Social Marketing Infographic

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The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) has increased rapidly within the last few years. The development of T2DM can lead to many health complications including microvascular and macrovascular diseases. Management of T2DM is possible through the alterations of some of the modifiable risk factors, which include healthful eating, regular physical activity, weight management or weight loss if needed, and medication if needed. Due to the need for T2DM education in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service (OCES) Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Adult and Older Adult Nutrition Specialist developed a T2DM education curriculum entitled �Live well, Eat well be Active with Diabetes� (LEAD). OCES FCS County Educators indicated a need for a supplemental visual social marketing tool they could use with consumers to support key T2DM and T2DM management concepts after attending in-service trainings on the LEAD curriculum. The purpose of this research was to develop and conduct formative assessment of a T2DM social marketing infographic, which OCES FCS County educators could use with consumers to visually reinforce key concepts presented in the LEAD curriculum. Based on a survey sent out to 51 County Educators, results showed that of the participating OCES FCS County Educators, 95% agreed the infographic was accurate, 97% agreed the infographic was easy for the Educators to understand, and 93% agreed the infographic would be easy for the consumer to understand. The majority of County Educators also found the infographic visually appealing related to the layout, artwork, and overall appearance of the infographic. County Educators also suggested the need for the addition of color to the infographic, the addition of contact information for further information, increasing the font size, and making the figure on the infographic unisex. In conclusion, the majority of OCES FCS County Educators agreed the infographic supplemented the LEAD curriculum and reinforced key concepts of T2DM including: 1) What is type 2 diabetes, 2) Effects of high blood glucose, and 3) Key concepts including: a) Living well, b) Eating well, c) Being physical active, and d) Maintaining a healthful weight.